Except it means several different things, which I find confusing, because even context won't help you too much in figuring out which one is intended.
It's either a myth, an old truth, an in-group-jargon word or a concept.
1 a : a word or saying used by adherents of a party, sect, or belief and usually regarded by others as empty of real meaning b : a widely held belief < this book publishing shibboleth is a myth -- L. A. Wood> c : TRUISM, PLATITUDE
2 a : a use of language regarded as distinctive of a particular group < accent was... a shibboleth of social class -- Vivian Ducat> b : a custom or usage regarded as distinguishing one group from others < for most of the well-to-do in the town, dinner was a shibboleth, its hour dividing mankind -- Osbert Sitwell>
Re: Definitions?
It's either a myth, an old truth, an in-group-jargon word or a concept.
1 a : a word or saying used by adherents of a party, sect, or belief and usually regarded by others as empty of real meaning
b : a widely held belief < this book publishing shibboleth is a myth -- L. A. Wood>
c : TRUISM, PLATITUDE
2 a : a use of language regarded as distinctive of a particular group < accent was... a shibboleth of social class -- Vivian Ducat>
b : a custom or usage regarded as distinguishing one group from others < for most of the well-to-do in the town, dinner was a shibboleth, its hour dividing mankind -- Osbert Sitwell>